seashell-shaped floating pods offer deluxe residence in nature and on the sea

Three types of floating pods in nature and on the sea

Ocean-innovation company Ocean Builders is poised to develop three models of floating architecture in Panama that will offer luxurious residential homes in nature and on the sea, complete with smart-home technology. Yachts and boats will be bygone eras and treehouses in forests will have to reach new heights. The company’s floating pods extend to confer the residents a total view of the landscape, almost living among the clouds if planted in the forest and gifting ease of access to see the mountains’ top ridges if on the sea. The company, led by Rüdiger Koch and Grant Romundt, thinks their ocean-innovation technology will allow civilization to move onto the sea and in nature with quality of life. The duo tapped Dutch architect Koen Olthuis to design their three pod models: SeaPod, GreenPod, and EcoPod.

The SeaPod home model is currently being built in Linton Bay Marina in Panama according to the company. Its foundation draws from steel and concrete while the exterior is carpeted with fiberglass, gel coat, and foam. Like an iceberg, it floats through 1,688 cubic feet of air-filled steel tubes which make the home buoyant, pushing the entire SeaPod up three meters above the water. It is complete with rooms and amenities found in land homes, but the team decided to adopt a total-white, minimalist approach to the interior and exterior. The SeaPod also has a skylight, so residents can enjoy direct sunlight and a view of the sky from the inside.

images courtesy of Ocean Builders | photos from Grant Romundt (ScissorBoy LLC)

Modern treehouses and curvy homes for greenpod and ecopod

The GreenPod is more out in nature rather than on the ocean. The height seems to reach the top-level of tall trees in the forest with its 37 feet long construction. The modern treehouses have three floors; a spacious living room that can be altered as a second bedroom, a gym, or an office; a shower climber wall to access the roof; and some smart-home technology to cater to the modern lifestyle of the residents. The company thinks that its GreenPods require a minimal footprint. ‘Our land-based pod is able to sit amongst nature without disturbing the surrounding area. With the high vantage point, you are able to look out over the treetops to obtain a view others can only dream of.’

Another family member of the company is the EcoPod. Its concept started in 2019, and the company has been reviving its model and applying new iterations to recreate its old model. ‘We wanted something with much bigger windows. We wanted a large outdoor space that was protected from the sun. We wanted a super simple design that could be manufactured quickly, economically, and easily from anywhere in the world. We wanted something that could be shipped in a cargo container and assembled anywhere. We wanted to have a more attractive design with curves on the outside,’ writes Ocean Builders. The EcoPod has a flat-round shape compared to the pod shape of the other models.

seashell floating pods offer deluxe residence in nature and on the sea

Seashell-inspired design and logo

The company also picked the seashell as its emblem since they believe it is a natural home built by creatures on Earth and speaks of their goal to make homes that are in line with the ocean and nature. ‘Our long-term goal is to make sustainable homes made from as many natural and eco-conscious materials as possible,’ the company writes. It also adds that shells are structurally strong which for the team means protection from the outside world. ‘Every shell is a beautiful masterpiece and we wanted to make each Pod a beautiful masterpiece so you have a home that inspires you,’ the company believes.

GreenPod in nature